Derlink Sapparel

''“What exactly is emotion? Is it an object, a living thing? A feeling you’d say? Wrong..Emotion is what we are..people say YOU’RE happy and YOU’RE upset or are YOU sad. Emotion is a magic that expresses its way through us. Now what is love? That I do not know..”-''Derlink to Hamaliel

Derlink Sapparel is one of the main protagonists of the Favoriteland series. He is the 5th character Ryanch fights and the third character that Ryanch encounters. He is 17 in Favoriteland, 18 in Favoriteland Forward, 33 in Legacy and 36 in Rebirth. He’s 38 in Uprising and 55 in Favoriteland Traitors Among Us.

Appearance:
Derlink is a young, male Elf who has light brown and straight hair. He has his signature bright green spike that reaches from above his head to his upper jaw. The green only covers half of the spike, but has dark green hair on his right side of his head next to the spike when in battle. He has bright green eyes

that sparkle in sync to his mood. When upset or sad, they’re dimmer. But when happy, passionate or in a dark place, they shine brighter than any other character’s eyes. He wears a short sleeved green shirt With three darker spikes for casual wear, but always has his Elemental outfit on mainly. He wears a pink flower-like collar around his neck. His sneakers are bright green with black laces too. He wears two yellow-green gloves that are cuffed with two golden bracelets with a red heart in the centre (to signify the Mafavalian style.) His wings unlike many of the other characters are thorny and sharp that resemble a beautiful flower greatly. His Elemental outfit consists of a dark green “robe”  With long sleeves that he wears with a black mask which covers half his face, but he prefers to show his face to his opponents as “hiding behind a mask is an act of cowardice”. His Elemental boots are yellow-green with pink buttons and a gold zipper on the back of the boots. Over his Elemental outfit is his Pure Knight Armour (white armour and a place at the top of his helm that lets his hair go through. When fighting with all his might, his eyes turn black with his pupils turning bright green. His fangs take the place of his molars and doesn’t need to bear them at any foe that much considering most foes are greatly intimidated. When in beast form, taking on the mythical creature called the “Venusvine” which is a powerful eleven legend that represents emotion and is said to bring leadership which suits him. The bird is forest green with a neon green tail and black talons. The legend also has the same colour eyes as Derlink and has a black beak. On the talons are two gold anklets that are identical to Derlink’s bracelets on his wrists which signify the heart of Favoriteland.

Personality:
Throughout the Favoriteland series, Derlink has proven to possess characteristics similar to another character Hyuzu.

Derlink is VERY self centred and often compares himself to every other Mafavalian, especially Azguel. Despite this, he is very shooken up inside And gets jumpy at the mention of failure or fire. He is stuck in the past. This impacts him a lot.(first series its his father’s death) He is very sore and cannot express emotion properly, making it ironic as he’s the Favorite of Emotion. He is afraid of fire, often yelling at Pyro when he uses it near him. He also has PTSD. Derlink lets his guard down in his own time, trying to find reasons to hate everyone when in reality he just needs to be shown he’s valued and wants to let everyone help. He went crazy overtime due to him seeing an illusion of Dea. Only to get over it in a way. Derlink often behaves like a spoiled 5 year old brat who’s used to getting what he wants. Due to his father not being home and buying him out. An example being that once Derlink asked his father to go shoot some arrows at the shooting range, but instead his dad gave him 35 diamonds to go do what he wanted. Throughout the first one, he was angry because his dad died 6 years ago. His father didn’t want him becoming a fighter which is what Derlink wanted to become and trained in secret with his teacher who seen great potential in him. Derlink always thought passionately and still does. Through all his life ever since he wanted to become an intimidating warrior known through everywhere, Derlink has shown to possess ONE characteristic that he tries to hide more than anything. He’s very bashful. When he gets compliments, particularly if someone does not seem intimidated and calls him cute or handsome instead. This makes him one of three things: furious/irritated, weak or embarrassed/bashful. Despite not being seen as smart, he actually IS. Derlink is observant, maybe even in the top 3 of the most observant. He’s able to predict what his opponents will do and can see and hear very well. He uses this to spot camouflaged opponents. Derlink might be self centred, but his outfit is actually strategic. He doesn’t want to get caught on plants, so his outfit is designed the way it is. This shows how far he goes to look ahead and to plan. Derlink has also said to Piranha (his close friend) that while he may be happy fighting or being with Piranha, he’s never really been truly happy since his dad died. He also says that ever since he was 3, his main emotion was fear, which he rarely expresses throughout the anime or manga. He’s very defensive of this.

Early Life:
Derlink’s early life wasn’t a pretty one. Although born from royal blood, Derlink longed for attention, he wanted people to spend time with him as well. The maids only did what they needed to which meant no quality time with Derlink. He and his parents were very distant until Derlink was 2 and got a brother Aegis. Then was Told he was the weakest elf in the world. Aegis was given attention and Derlink Was alone. As such, Derlink was used to being alone and often looked out the window. Where all the elite warriors practiced every day. He stared and watched in awe and ever since he first laid eyes on them, he wanted to become one. Basically, he was called weak and frail when he was actually quite strong and just made mistakes. Not to mention that while it made no difference, Derlink was an unplanned baby who was just plain neglected by his mother because she didn’t want kids! But when Aegis was born (he was actually wanted) he got all the love. Derlink was excluded just because he was unplanned.

His mother and Aegis were told to leave the Elven Kingdom by his father without giving them the humiliation. Derlink never forgot and it gave him horrible PTSD, afraid of fire but most horribly, failure (Afraid to be belittled and insulted by being called weak). Every time Derlink failed and went home to his father he’d panic that something would happen, only for his father to lecture him about studying and encouraged to do better next time. He’s afraid of fire because one time he was running away from the castle in fear and he made himself a fire, only to wake up burning. Nobody can see it but on Derlink’s back are burn marks left there. He was also bullied in school at first because he was believe it or not, very shy and timid. There were 4 of these bullies that would physically beat him up and insult him. Eventually, he had enough and really injured his bullies by breaking their leader legs with him not getting a scratch on him and saying to the rest:

“Do I look weak to you now? How does it feel? Being bullied by an innocent child that was once your victim? Bully me again and I will break your arm too! Understand?! From now on I protect the innocent and that means keeping disgusting people like you at bay!”

It was at this moment when he realized that nobody ever stood up for the little guy. As Derlink said to Ryanch:

“I never used to be this way, at one point I wouldn’t harm the tiniest of living things. But nobody ever stood up for the innocent. Nobody ever did. And I should know, because at one point, so was I. I too, was innocent and wide eyed, but after some idiots, I knew I had to do something. Ever wonder why I’m cold mortal? Because showing emotion makes you prone to evil and weakness.”

His father and him grew very close because unlike some others that told him warriors can’t show how they feel and if they do, they wont make it, Kanjo actually told his son it’s healthy. He supported Derlink completely and fully, encouraging him to express himself and his emotions better. After Kanjo realized the horrible impact what leaving Derlink alone entailed, he held him close when he was 6 and told him that he would never let him feel alone, that there was always someone who cared and would be there for him. He was very protective of his son because he was very innocent and sensitive as a kid. Whenever Derlink felt upset or would cry, Kanjo would be there to help him through whatever he was going through. He also encouraged Derlink’s desire to play the piano. When Derlink was 7, he broke his right arm, which didn’t really impact his writing as he’s left handed, but this impacted him as his father was really worried. This showed Derlink that not everyone is bad. Which is why when he had to take over at 12, he was absolutely devastated as his dad died. This is why he’s angry in the first series. He had to run a kingdom when he was in charge at 12 and was crowned king at 15. He disbanded the council as soon as he took over his father’s place because Derlink knew he was royal and wanted to be king, not president. As a little child, he was technically raised by his best friend Piranha a plant that was with him forever. Piranha was the one that raised Derlink even when Derlink couldn’t even walk. Derlink doesn’t eat plants for 2 main reasons with the warriors diet as one, and Piranha (a plant) that raised him. Piranha is very very worried about Derlink every day he wakes up. He’s the only one Derlink normally listens to and the only one he cries around. During Derlink’s first day of school after his father left, Piranha went with him.

Piranha also knows that as a very young kid (both in childhood AND during an event), Derlink had horrific nightmares about Zarai telling him how weak he was and that he’d never amount to anything and more nightmares about being burned in a forest fire. It is referenced that an ancestor of Derlink, Eeleve Sapparel was tragically burnt to a crisp whilst training with his family in the forest. The forest started to go up and flames and Eeleve saved his family in exchange for his life. Derlink grows weary of fires for a number of reasons. He was burnt on his back from fire, he nearly burned himself when he was about 4 years old on accident and an Elven Legend says that a descendant of Eeleve will die by fire. Derlink fully knowing that he’s a descendant of the first Elven King makes him afraid. Derlink is the only Favorite that was actually visited by Demoness! While the Favorite’s know of the Hellians and Demoness, Derlinkwas greeted by her in two ways. He was greeted by her in nightmares ever since he was 2 years old and he even saw her in real life trying to persuade him to be her “New Friend” and that “She Understood his scarring past.” Derlink however, knew something wasn’t right and apologized when he said he didn’t want to.

When he was 7, he did an obstacle course that wasn’t for his age, but for warriors in training which caused him to fall and break his right arm. He fell because he miscalculated, but also because he was thinking of a nightmare he had. As a kid he would swing in the canopies of the tall Elven trees and race Piranha and was caught by him if he fell. Early in life, he fell for an elven blacksmiths daughter named Lapis Lazuli, who he watched read on a rock beneath the sun. The biggest thorn in Derlink’s side is the guilt he feels.

The Amalielven War:
Derlink as a child was exposed to a disastrous war between Orochi’s people and his own. The elves were dying because of hunger, but the amalians said that the elves had drove the amalian kind to near extinction. Elves needed meat due to their activity in moving and fighting off enemies as meat helped them gain weight more than plants. This is why Derlink is a carnivore rather than an omnivore, but will eat plants if it means he must. This war was solely about amalians dying and elves in turns, supplying Amalia with various plants to feed its citizens. Orochi led a war in which the elves were taking their meat supply too lightly. The Elven side says that Orochi squandered an alliance and waged war despite Elevee giving Amalia food. Derlink was forbidden to go to that disastrous war as he was only a child at the time while Orochi was an adult. (Derlink was 9 at the time and Orochi was 30) Derlink however, disguised himself as an Elven knight and rode Piranha into battle. A little eager, Derlink charged into battle before his father gave the word that they could. His father turned around and seen him rush into battle, then he yelled at the warrior to stop. Derlink however was full in rage and tried to attack the amalian army. Orochi seen the warrior, but had no idea it was a child or Derlink at all, so he sent his army forth. Derlink running into the battle caused Kanjō to rush forward with his army and in elvish said “QUICKLY, ATTACK BEFORE HE GETS HIMSELF KILLED!” Kanjō then seen that the horse the warrior was riding had an autumn leaf as its tail and vines as legs. At this moment he knew his son was engaged in combat and his eyes were filled with fear. He spoke to Derlink in elvish “DERLINK GET BACK HERE! STOP BEFORE YOU GET HURT OR KILLED!” Seeing how engaged Derlink was, Kanjō was shocked when he seen that he alone was killing so many amalians. Derlink killed the front lines with his “sainto” (actually Element) and Piranha made sure to charge straight through him, but was shot in the leg. He was told by Derlink to transform and return and Piranha did. Derlink then knelt down and wielded a sickle that shown through his cape. Amalians surrounded him and he defeated many of them. However, a Eaglragon (eagle dragon) nearly killed Derlink, only for his father to shoot it in the eye and kill it. Kanjō didn’t want to risk his son’s life for a war and hid Derlink behind him. Derlink was about to get shot and Kanjō took the arrow in his back. Shortly after, the amalian army and Orochi retreated. Then he told Derlink “son listen to me, you need to be strong like you always are...you are Elvenking of Eeleve now. You mean the world to me kid. you’re very special..lead our people to victory.” Then he handed Derlink his crown. Derlink was seriously internally wounded at his father’s death and never forgave what the Amalians did. He feels remorse and guilt because he thinks that if he didn’t go charge the amalians, his father would have still been alive. That if he didn’t go, if he hadn’t existed, Kanjō would have lived on. After he became king 6 years later (After being put in charge at 12), Derlink was given a note written by his father telling Derlink that when he dies (when Kanjō dies) it was never Derlink’s fault. But Derlink still believes that since the death of his father, that it was his fault. This war made Derlink’s cold and hate filled bond with Orochi. Orochi did not know Kanjō would be in the battle let alone his son. But the two are still on thin ice. The events of his father’s death made Derlink blame himself over and over as it played on his mind in a loop saying that

“If I wasn’t so weak, if I didn’t need protection, If I wasn’t so foolish..THEN MY FATHER WOULD STILL BE HERE! IT’S ALL MY FAULT I CANNOT SEE HIM, MY FAULT THAT HE’S DEAD! HE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR ME! It’s ironic...I thought I was strong, but on the inside I’m just a stupid child!”

However, after Orochi visited the battlefield after apologizing to Eeleve and making a pact of peace, he noticed that the footprints to the person that shot Derlink’s father weren’t actually Amalians at all! It was actually that one person who made it off of Alelusive Prison Exile before it crashed down the other day. Orochi doesn’t know who it was, but knows one thing for sure…an Amalian doesn’t have that kind of range…

Teenage Years:
As a teenager, Derlink was used to having no parents around as his father died when he was 9 and he never knew his mother, he didn’t remember her. Derlink single handedly became the ruler of all elves at 12, won a war at 16 and saved many. Derlink had nobody to vent to because he never knew anyone that he could trust. He had is Favorytism occur when he was about 7 years of age. Derlink was very ambitious as a teenager and rebelled against the traditional way of being crowned a king. He wouldn’t take anyone’s advice when it came to running a council which is why he disbanded it. He trained with his teacher until he was crowned king and during the coronation, his teacher kneeled before him and Derlink shows this ONE time that he too is noble and kneels to him saying “I owe my strength to you teach” Then gives him the title of general.

When he was 15, he enrolled at Imaginary Academy, took the hardest test and got a solid B grade. He was furious inside because he knew he could’ve done better and considered the B as a failure. He went there for both high school and to become a well known elite chief in fighting, a warrior for the Northern Isle of Favoriteland and known everywhere. He graduates in the second series. It takes about 4-5 years to graduate I.A and Derlink once failed a test impossible to solve, making him go into a panic.

When Derlink fought Aegis again, in the final episode of the first series, Derlink learned it was Aegis who murdered his father. Aegis said he wanted the throne and would kill everyone that prevented him from claiming it. He let Zarai, his mother, fall to her death, attempted to kill Derlink in the Amalielven War with a doomsday arrow, killed his father in the War and reunited with Derlink. Aegis was at deaths door when his fight with Derlink ended. Derlink tried to show him mercy, but Aegis stabbed himself with his own blade, rather dying than accept Derlink's mercy.

Derlink’s Element of Vinemind:
Since he controls emotion, his power of vinemind is an element due to his emotion controlling of mortals ability. His element Vinemind can:


 * While he can do the same thing (Form a shape from the green like humans)
 * He tells the plant life what to do and they’ll do it.


 * He can make plants grow on any surface and remove them from any surface.
 * He can poison his victims when he bites like other toxic plants.
 * He can create life like flowers BUT also uses this to his advantage.
 * Derlink can create sharp thorns and sharp vines that can pierce the thickest armour.
 * He normally trains his cousin Hamaliel without any mercy and Hamaliel always falters before him. Although he does think he is worthy for the Pure Knights.
 * This element causes him to grow flowers on his arm if used too much, all he needs is a 10 minute break to recover though.
 * When controlling emotion, he’ll go through undesirable flashbacks.
 * Derlink controls plants with the flick of his fingers, even able to make them sentient!
 * Derlink has incredible sight and hearing
 * Derlink is probably the fastest elf ever and can jump higher than any other Favorite due to his kind.

Relationships:
Pyro Favoriteland: Derlink really secretly admires the king’s worry-less personality. He loves that he’s such a good father and he’s one of the only ones Derlink feels somewhat happy with. He’s also the only one Derlink EVER vented to Aside from Scar.

Orochi Trebleclef: While they aren’t on bad terms, Derlink sees Orochi as an overprotective person. He see Orochi as such a sweet & gentle soul, but also kinda close to cracking what's bothering him. So he sees Orochi as somewhat overbearing, he was even told by Orochi that he’s a role model for Hamaliel and that when Derlink gets mad, he’s a bit like a Volcanic eruption.

Hamaliel Soliare: Derlink is cousins with Hamaliel. Derlink sees Hamaliel as a merciful soul and that it could get him killed. Derlink hates it when he’s hurt and scolds him, saying he should stand up for himself. He stands up for his little cousin and protects him, keeping him out of harms way.

Lapis Lazuli: Derlink and Lapis were one of the biggest ships when they were going to elementary. Derlink used to sing about her and at hed her whenever she read her books in the forests of Eeleve. He adored everything she did and eventually (spoiler warning) they got married and had three children.

Azguel Favoriteland: Derlink has gotten terrible envy over Az, Azguel stole spotlight from Derlink which caused the fighting. Although Azguel tries to help him. Derlink secretly cares though and protects Az from Dea and from evil. But sees him as a threat to him becoming the best. Derlink and Azguel were friends since they were very young. Derlink was a grade ahead of Azguel, that is until Az skipped a grade and was put in Derlink’s class. Derlink was elated that his best friend was put in his class, but when it came time to show off their abilities, Derlink’s friends were astonished by Azguel and even hung around him, neglecting Derlink. Derlink who had terrible flashbacks of being neglected, was reminded of the harshness of being alone and blamed Azguel for ending up alone again. But some of Derlink’s old and true friends stuck with him and even comforted him about having his spotlight taken from him, Derlink, filled with hate and raged started bullying Azguel. To which Piranha disapproved, but Derlink just couldn’t stop hiding his anger, even started yelling at Azguel for being a “Hybrid” which is where Derlink first called him by the hurtful nickname. When he first fought with Azguel, that was when his eyes turned black with his green pupils shining for the first time, making all the other children confused and amazed. Even scared! In present day though, Derlink eased up on bullying Azguel and their complicated relationship is actually a little more neutral than before. He even helped Azguel in “Element of Them All” tournament round 1.

Aegis Sapparel: Aegis was Derlink’s younger brother by two years and the two were very close. Zarai however, didn’t like the fact that her planned child was associating with “the unplanned accident” and Aegis was separated from Derlink. He drifted away from Derlink as time passed and even became a petty thief and poisoner. Derlink once saved somebody by slapping poison out of someone’s hands when they were about to drink it. Aegis went with Zarai when she was exiled by Kanjo, leaving Derlink behind and presumably died when the exiling elven lands set ablaze killing 99% off exiled prisoners. But they never found Zarai nor Aegis’s bodies and it’s been confirmed they escaped. But their whereabouts are both unknown.

Kanjō Sapparel: Kanjō was Derlink’s father who cared for him more than his mother and aunt along with his uncle. Derlink admired his father, although fought with him about becoming a warrior. To which Kanjō Greatly disapproved of it while Derlink LOVED it. Kanjo went to war with Orochi’s people, the Amalians and was shot by an arrow protecting his 9 year old son Derlink, who followed him to war despite being warned and ordered not to follow. Derlink saw his caring father die right in front of him at such a young age and he even examined the arrow. Orochi told him that Amalians at the time didn’t wear shoes so they could sense what was coming and it didn’t slow their movements. They were no Amalian snipers that used arrows. Since that explanation, they clarified that Kanjo’s killer wasn’t Amalian. He and Orochi signed a peace treaty in honour of Kanjo and Orochi confessed he didn’t know Kanjo was in the war himself, let alone that Kanjo had a kid!

Zarai Sapparel: Zarai is never spoken of by Derlink and he has a foggy memory of her. All that he remembers about her is that she called him weak and he didn’t care for that. Nobody knows where Zarai went after she was told to leave and never return. Aegis apparently chose to go with her, leaving Derlink behind.

Hyūzu Favoriteland: Prince Hyūzu, being the younger brother of Azguel you’d think Derlink would get along with. This is far from the truth. Derlink and Hyūzu may be angry all the time, but Derlink sees Hyūzu as spoiled and very rude. He also sees him as untrustworthy.

Piranha: Piranha has always been Derlink’s parental figure ever since Derlink was a baby, Piranha raised him to be respectful, compassionate and understanding of others. Derlink considers Piranha as his adoptive father since Kanjō died. Piranha is aware of Derlink’s soft side, Derlink said that he’s never felt fearful. Piranha knows that he did this unintentionally by only feeling sorrow, guilt and anger for years. So much so that he’s forgotten that it was fear that drove him to this in the first place. Derlink doesn’t express fear again til the events of Favoriteland when Ryanch comes up. Not right away, but rather during the events on New Year’s Eve in the episode “Hyuzu’s Vial” where he called fireworks “stupid moronic flashes of fire” while silently keeping to himself while crying. To which everybody in the room notices. Piranha was happy that Derlink showed true feelings again. Derlink even preferred Piranha over his parents when he didn’t know any better. Piranha is also somewhat unintentionally responsible for Derlink’s stubbornness and picky eating habits. Piranha was stubborn when it came to obeying harsh rules in Derlink’s elementary school rules. He also hated being told what to do, which Derlink mimics. Since Piranha is a plant (that can become Htralia), Derlink views plants as the reason he was sociable and he loves plants more than any other living thing (aside from Htralia). Since a plant raised Derlink for technically 14 years overall, Derlink refuses to eat plants.

The Three Sapparels: Otherwise knows as the “Three Zee’s”, they are Derlink’s kin by being his kids. Derlink is the most protective parental figure as a Favorite as he fears what happened in his childhood could happen to them. He developed an attachment to them ever since they were born and never wanted to be apart from them. He was the one that cried when his children first went to school. The one when he most cried was Zephyr going to school, to which Lapis had to reassure him that Zephyr was going to be fine. When she asked why Derlink was so overprotective about their school, he replied with: “bullies…period. They’re everywhere in school! Our children are the sweetest kids ever, they’re going to be beaten up and hurt in school! I don’t want them to go through that like I did!” Only for Lapis to say that they’re not in his childhood and that anything’s possible, but that bullies won’t harm them.

Fighting Styles:
Derlink hardly ever has strategy in his fighting style. Which makes sense because he is the Favorite of Emotion. So he fights however he REALLY feels. If he’s sad, his attacks would be weaker and slower, if he’s hiding something, he would be more defensive. These are the two fighting styles that he uses the most due to his emotions. However, when fighting enemies he hates, his style accelerates and gets sharper greatly because of what they do/did. Same when he’s having a good time with training Hamaliel. When fighting, Derlink does not give up ever. Very few enemies made it past him in Favoriteland with one being a rare exception.

Professions:
King of Elves: As the king of the elves, Derlink is responsible for them in general. When he came back from war when he was 9, after seeing his father killed in battle, his people were overjoyed that one Sapparel was still alive.

Professional Chef: Although hardly ever mentioned, Derlink was and is an amazing cook, he could make any dish and it would taste better than the last. He was taught by Pyro

The Knight Alpha: Throughout the series, Derlink because of his strength and agility, was made the knight alpha. Which means he’s the head of Hamaliel, Endraxus AND Galexiar as they are all knights. He is crowned with the duty of keeping Favoriteland safe from the southern isles.

The Favorite of Emotion: Derlink has one of the biggest weights on his shoulders as he has to manipulate everyone's emotions. He has to know what’s happening in everyone and try to think logically to distribute all the emotions. He seems to bear lots of weight and worry which is unhealthy for any elf.

Cupid: Just as Derlink hides his middle name, it is revealed to be Cupid “Derlink Cupid Sapparel.” He is the one who makes everyone fall in love which makes sense as he too is in love and was always like that whenever he sees Lapis. He uses the classic golden bow and enchanted arrows for this, however he does not do this with Favorite’s although he did find a way to affect Hyuzu.

Leader of The D Crew: Derlink, using his own name formed the “D Crew” being one of the north quadrant’s big 3 gangs that rule said quadrant. The D Crew is made up of 5 members with the members being Derlink, Razor (Lionel Hendrix), Illustrator (Ilif Frast), Vortex (Hamaliel) and Astatine (Emily Pendant). This gang despite being Derlink’s group, are hilarious with only 2 serious members (Derlink and Razor) and they are aware of Derlink’s angry personality. They sometimes dare to tease him for it and end up regretting the decision, then they apologize. The D Crew relies on positioning of the group members roles following a “Power system” and whoever is strongest is the D Crew’s leader. None of the D Crew’s members are as or will never be as strong as Derlink, meaning the #2 spot (filled by Hamaliel) is also considered #1. The rest fight over the #3 spot a lot.

School Life:
Derlink was a very popular kid in school ever since he was 5. Before that, he went to preschool and learned how to do agility and quick thinking before any other elf as elves rely on instinct, Derlink mainly. Derlink then went to elementary where he taught the sainto gifted elves how to use their unique ability. He became their leader when he turned 7 and was the center of attention. This, Derlink loved as he never had any when he was very young. However, he was in a mixed school where all 5 races were. Azguel entered school at 4 and became Derlink’s friend, however, Azguel skipped a grade due to his intellect and strength, meaning he was in Derlink’s class. Derlink didn’t mind at first, but when Azguel started unintentionally stealing the spotlight from the young elf, Derlink got very peeved off and things started getting very very violent, an example being where Derlink physically fought with Azguel over dominance, only for Azguel to surrender, which made Derlink humiliated and made him more mad. Azguel finally fought back, but after winning, he helped Derlink up and ever since, Derlink felt he was inferior to Azguel. Similar to Hyuzu feeling overshadowed. Derlink as such started to get low self esteem about his strength and started overthinking about how weak he was compared to Azguel. So to get revenge, he insulted Azguel every day because he worried about coming off as weak. Being called stuff is something that also makes him worried that he just isn’t strong. Derlink was bullied as well, and became a symbol of protection for students after getting revenge. He entered I.A to become the strongest warrior known throughout the isles and Htrae. His passion is what drives him and he also wants to be able to fight without hate.

Family Life (SPOILER WARNING):
''“I see love in the air, a free spirit of its own. Will I ever get to meet it though?”''

After the events of Favoriteland Forward, it’s shown at the end of Forward that Derlink took a year off from working for “unknown reasons” to which, the viewer sees Derlink walking through the woods and he speaks to them. “What? Can’t the Favorite of Emotion have a break from looking after other people? Complete strangers? Besides, I have much more important matters to attend to…” then we get a wide shot that Derlink is pushing a carriage through the woods with him. Revealing that he’s become a father. We also see that Derlink’s wife is none other than Lapis Lazuli, his childhood crush.

He and Lapis have three children. The eldest who looks nearly identical to Derlink and has his fighting spirit, is Zephyr. He also had twins Zula and Zenith. He had found out Lapis was pregnant shortly after they were married and was overjoyed as he always wanted a big family. When all three of their kids were born, Derlink came to Favoriteland nearly happy all the time. As he put it, “I was too lucky to be upset”. But things changed for the worse when winter befell Eeleve. For in a beautiful sunny, winter day, Lapis and their youngest child Zenith went out into the marketplace. Zula stayed home and Zephyr was out at warriors camp (where he was to stay for a year or two). Then out of nowhere, Lapis and Zenith were hit by an avalanche, which killed them. Derlink immediately knew something was wrong as Lapis and Zenith were 2 hours late for dinner, so he went out and to his horror, seen the horrible avalanche. He dug through all that snow hoping that what he thought couldn’t be true, only for his fears to be confirmed that Lapis and Zenith had died. He was never the same after the incident and according to Zula, “He was devastated, put into a typhoon of despair and sorrow. He hates that he didn’t go with them to protect them.”

Derlink from that day forward was never able to smile again. He lost both his father, his wife and his son all because he was either in the way, or wasn’t there. He buried them in the royal cemetery and goes there every day to mourn. Piranha said he never has been so hurt since his father’s death. But Derlink still realizes that he has Zula to keep him company and was so happy when he seen her after returning from the disaster. He assumed that Zephyr too, had died as a “survival of the fittest event” broke out at his warrior camp. But after Derlink came back from the Heavens, he seen Zephyr for the first time in years and he grew extremely protective of his children. But he raised them as a single father anyways and both turned out strong and had strong wills to win. He made them his head guards and they prove to be above average. He was happy that they did well in school, but was weary of the way Celsius looks at Zula and narrows his eyes at him when he catches him.

He got married when he was 19 years old because he was eager to have his own family to love. He wanted to love them and he really wanted to have a big family, as did Lapis. In the end of legacy, even when he died in the same series, he comes back (He died in late legacy, but came back at the end of it, making an appearance as green emerald eyes in the dark forestry. The Favorites know he’s alive when he’s 34 as he came back a year later and greeted everyone.)

Role in Uprising (SPOILER ALERT)
Derlink in Uprising was crucial to Connor’s character development. Derlink also fought alongside Orochi and Azguel to hold off the Hellians that possessed the Flares. There were thousands of them to destroy and rip apart much to Derlink’s delight and to Orochi’s frustration. Derlink was concerned for Connor as he lost his emotional side once he became a silent assassin for Favoriteland. All of them were concerned, but only Derlink had the gull to smack him across the face to get a point across. Connor was devastated which is why he distanced himself from everything and everyone, but Derlink wouldn’t allow that. Connor came to Favoriteland as an emotional and talented prodigy in technology and detective, police and judgmental areas. But he never allowed power to cloud said judgement skills he had until he shut himself off:

''“If it’s worth it, my work is to see the ones I save smile again. I want to be a Sainō so I could make the world a better place, even if it means sacrificing myself for it!”-Connor as a 6 year old child''

''“For what it’s worth, criminals aren’t worth anything more than what they did. Such awful people hurting the innocent! I’ll see that I complete my dream, by any means necessary. There’s always an unhappy person in the world, I just cannot make everyone happy like I planned. If it means killing those Hellians one by one, I’ll see that they’ll never breathe again.”-Connor as a 15 year old years after he lost his family and became an assassin.''

But Derlink in the end was the one to convince Connor that emotions need to be expressed, not repressed. He tells Connor what it was like to do so and that it was the worst feeling he’s ever experienced. He also says that when you’re a kid, every event is crucial. But what really changed Connor’s view was what Derlink brought up:

''“If you continue like this, you’ll never see what caused it in the first place. What happened to the emotional little kid I helped on Htrae? You have to understand that power isn’t everything! I leaned that through a tedious and long way, but you don’t have to follow me. When Hyuzu made that embarrassing and humiliating potion intended for Az and it hit both Az and me, it felt like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t hide how I really felt. Be like that Connor, don’t be this lifeless…thing! Be alive! Stop bossing yourself around! Doesn’t it seem unfair you’re suffering your own choices you tell yourself to do? Stop it..”''

In summary, Derlink told Connor not to go down the path of repression and that he understands that very path. He tells Connor about the potion of rebirth Hyuzu created to humiliate Azguel and that Connor shouldn’t be pushing himself to the point of alienation. That he should stop being emotionless and to live freely because to Derlink, Connor’s put himself into a prison of his own making from memories and pain.

Connor thinks of this advice often and took it, which changed how he acts around others. Without Derlink, Connor just wouldn’t be all that emotional and empathetic as he is in present day. It was Derlink who helped him emotionally and Azguel was the one who helped him to be who he wants.